Saudi schools welcome first batch of Chinese language teachers

For the first time, 175 Chinese language teachers will begin teaching at primary and middle schools in Saudi Arabia later this month. This initiative stems from an agreement between Beijing and Riyadh last year aimed at enhancing cooperation in Chinese language education.

According to China Daily, the teachers underwent pre-service training at Tianjin Normal University from 29 July to 2 August, organised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education and the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education.

A total of 175 Chinese language teachers will begin their careers in #Saudi elementary and intermediate schools from the middle of August.https://t.co/ZeCexHf1Bw

— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) August 7, 2024

One website for Chinese language teaching programmes reported that 800 teaching positions will eventually be filled as part of this initiative. The new academic year, starting next week, will feature Chinese language classes held three times per week during the three terms, as noted by the Saudi news portal Al Marsd.

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Last year, Saudi secondary schools introduced mandatory Chinese language programmes for second-grade students, which included educational shows and interactive lessons to enhance language learning through group activities and self-learning.

In 2020, Saudi authorities began teaching Chinese in eight high schools to boost ties between the countries. Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official visit to the kingdom in late 2022, where he met King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), it was announced that Chinese language education would be expanded.

Xi Jinping stated that China would offer thousands of opportunities to teach Chinese in Gulf countries. In January 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council approved a draft accord with Beijing to teach Chinese in the kingdom, signalling a significant step in educational cooperation between the two countries.

This move builds on an earlier agreement signed by MBS in 2019 during his visit to China, which aimed to promote the use of Mandarin in Saudi Arabia as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with Beijing.

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